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I want to understand everything." "Well," said Townshead, "I think this is the position. Hallam lent me money which I cannot repay him, and he sells us up. Incidentally, I fancy he has some reason for desiring this ranch, and as he has been acquiring a good deal of land lately will get somebody to buy it in.
"You taught Miss Townshead here?" he said. "Yes," said the other. "She is a lady of considerable ability, and I could recommend her with confidence." Alton stared at him a moment out of half-closed eyes. "Of course you would," he said. "Well now, she has been applying for some place where they want security. Is it fit for a lady?" "Yes," said the man dryly.
"When," said Townshead smiling, "I was a King in Babylon." "No," said Alton reflectively. "You're a little late on time. The Christian slave don't quite fit in." Townshead glanced at him sharply, and said nothing, for the rancher had once or twice already somewhat astonished him. "Well," said Alton, "tell me, Miss Nellie, were the lilies where the ashes hung over the lake?
The girl clenched her hands as she watched him, and then turning her head looked down the valley. "I fancy I hear hoofs. He told me he would come," she said, but Townshead, who sat apathetically in the old leather chair, shook his head. "He has, of course, forgotten if he did," he said. "No," said the girl with a trace of harshness in her voice. "Mr. Alton never forgets a promise.
"Yes," said Miss Townshead hastily. "Still, one of the girls I met at the school told me there was somebody wanted at a big dry goods store, and I think I had better go round and see the people now." Alton rose, and when they went out together gravely held out his hand. "We used to be good friends, and you were kind to me," said he. "Now is there nothing that I can do?"
"Still, we'll hope he'll be better to-morrow. He has been through a good deal to-day." Miss Townshead did not appear contented, but she changed the topic. "Then what did you mean when you spoke about the dress packet?" "I'll tell you," said Seaforth, "if you don't tell Harry.
"I am afraid that will not be for some little time," she said. "Poor Jack. You surely remember he is lying ill?" "It is especially inconvenient just now," said Townshead querulously. "It has also been a sore point with me that a son of mine should hire himself out as a labourer. I am sorry I let him go, the more so because the work upon the ranch is getting too much for me."
Miss Townshead glanced at her father. "They'll stop presently," said he. "The place stands at a third of its value, but it would cripple most of them to pay for it if they got it now. The man from Vancouver who goes up by twenties will get it at half of what it cost me, and I don't think you need watch for rancher Alton." Still Nellie Townshead did not quite give up hope.
It seemed an appreciable time before they came down amidst the fern, and then Miss Deringham drew in her breath with a little sibilant sigh. "Oh!" she said softly, and there was a great smashing as man and beast reeled through a brake on the other side. "Yes," said Seaforth, "it was a tolerably risky thing, but it takes a good deal to turn Harry. Where's Nellie Townshead now?"
Townshead was wrong in one respect, for it was the weakness of an over-sensitive temperament which, while friends were ready to help him, had driven him to hide himself in Western Canada when, as the result of unwise speculations, financial disaster overtook him.
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